Abstract: Described herein is a server computing system that controls an autonomous vehicle to perform an operation to at least one of measure or isolate an effect of a variable on an actual power consumption by the autonomous vehicle. Data indicative of the actual power consumption, which is generated based on the operation, and data indicative of a projected power consumption, which is accumulated based on prior execution of the operation by a same or different autonomous vehicle, is received by the server computing system to determine whether an energy efficiency of the autonomous vehicle is degraded. The operation may be performed to identify a degraded vehicle system or component of the autonomous vehicle or to identify an autonomous vehicle in a fleet of autonomous vehicles for which further analysis is desirable. An output is generated by the server computing system that is indicative of the energy efficiency prognostics.

Abstract: A method includes receiving user input indicating a selection of a subset of two or more of a plurality of audio layers for media content to be provided to a user, each of the subset of audio layers corresponding to one or more audio sources, receiving second user input indicating volume levels for the two or more audio layers of the plurality of audio layers, capturing, based on the first user input, the two or more audio layers of the plurality of audio layers for a media content item to be provided to the user, and enabling audio playback based on the two or more audio layers of the plurality of audio layers and without including other audio layers of the plurality of audio layers, the audio playback reflecting the volume levels indicated by the second user input. The method further includes causing the media content item to be provided to the user using the audio playback reflecting the indicated volume levels.

Abstract: An electrode lead comprises an electrically insulative cuff body and at least three axially aligned electrode contacts circumferentially disposed along the inner surface of the cuff body when in the furled state. The electrode contacts may be circumferentially disposed around a nerve, and an electrical pulse train may be delivered to the electrode contacts thereby stimulating the nerve to treat obstructive sleep apnea. The electrical pulse train may be one that pre-conditions peripherally located nerve fascicles to not be stimulated, while stimulating centrally located nerve fascicles. A feedback mechanism can be used to titrate electrode contacts and electrical pulse train to the patient. A sensor that is affixed to the case of a neurostimulator can be used to measure physiological artifacts of respiration, and a motion detector can be used to sense tapping of the neurostimulator to toggle the neurostimulator between an ON position and an OFF position.

Abstract: A prosthetic heart valve configured to replace a native heart valve and having a support frame configured to be reshaped into an expanded form in order to receive and/or support an expandable prosthetic heart valve therein is disclosed, together with methods of using same. The prosthetic heart valve may be configured to have a generally rigid and/or expansion-resistant configuration when initially implanted to replace a native valve (or other prosthetic heart valve), but to assume a generally expanded form when subjected to an outward force such as that provided by a dilation balloon or other mechanical expander.

Abstract: Described herein is a server computing system that controls an autonomous vehicle to perform an operation to at least one of measure or isolate an effect of a variable on an actual power consumption by the autonomous vehicle. Data indicative of the actual power consumption, which is generated based on the operation, and data indicative of a projected power consumption, which is accumulated based on prior execution of the operation by a same or different autonomous vehicle, is received by the server computing system to determine whether an energy efficiency of the autonomous vehicle is degraded. The operation may be performed to identify a degraded vehicle system or component of the autonomous vehicle or to identify an autonomous vehicle in a fleet of autonomous vehicles for which further analysis is desirable. An output is generated by the server computing system that is indicative of the energy efficiency prognostics.

Abstract: A illusory tactile sensation generation system and method via which a moving illusory tactile sensation may be created between spaced apart points on a user's skin using as few as two points of contact by varying the intensity at each point.

Abstract: A method includes capturing video frames of a video item to be transmitted as a livestream and delivering the video frames to a queue for an encoder of a user device. The method further includes determining that a subset of the video frames have been discarded. The discarding indicates that the subset of the video frames did not enter the encoder. The method further includes determining a frequency of discarded video frames. Responsive to the frequency exceeding a threshold frequency, the method includes reducing quality of the video item transmitted as the livestream based on the frequency by reducing one or more of frame rate of the user device, resolution of the user device, or encoder bitrate of the encoder.

Abstract: Disclosed prosthetic valves can comprise a sewing ring configured to secure the valve to an implantation site. Some disclosed valves comprise a resiliently collapsible frame having a neutral configuration and a collapsed deployment configuration. Some disclosed frames can self-expand to the neutral configuration when released from the collapsed deployment configuration. Collapsing a disclosed valve can provide convenient access to the sewing ring, such as for securing the valve to the implantation site, as well as for the insertion of the valve through relatively small surgical incisions.

Abstract: A method includes receiving user input indicating a selection of a subset of two or more of a plurality of audio layers for media content to be provided to a user, each of the subset of audio layers corresponding to one or more audio sources, receiving second user input indicating volume levels for the two or more audio layers of the plurality of audio layers, capturing, based on the first user input, the two or more audio layers of the plurality of audio layers for a media content item to be provided to the user, and creating an output audio layer for the media content item by mixing the two or more audio layers of the plurality of audio layers without including other audio layers of the plurality of audio layers, the output audio layer reflecting the volume levels indicated by the second user input. The method further includes causing the media content item to be provided to the user using the output audio layer reflecting the indicated volume levels.

Abstract: An electrode lead comprises an electrically insulative cuff body and at least three axially aligned electrode contacts circumferentially disposed along the inner surface of the cuff body when in the furled state. The electrode contacts may be circumferentially disposed around a nerve, and an electrical pulse train may be delivered to the electrode contacts thereby stimulating the nerve to treat obstructive sleep apnea. The electrical pulse train may be one that pre-conditions peripherally located nerve fascicles to not be stimulated, while stimulating centrally located nerve fascicles. A feedback mechanism can be used to titrate electrode contacts and electrical pulse train to the patient. A sensor that is affixed to the case of a neurostimulator can be used to measure physiological artifacts of respiration, and a motion detector can be used to sense tapping of the neurostimulator to toggle the neurostimulator between an ON position and an OFF position.

Abstract: A hearing aid comprises a sensor configured for detecting a focus of an end user on a real sound source, a microphone assembly configured for converting sounds into electrical signals, a speaker configured for converting the electrical signals into sounds, and a control subsystem configured for modifying the direction and/or distance of a greatest sensitivity of the microphone assembly based on detected focus. A virtual image generation system comprises memory storing a three-dimensional scene, a sensor configured for detecting a focus of the end user on a sound source, a speaker configured for conveying sounds to the end user, and a control subsystem configured for causing the speaker to preferentially convey a sound originating from the sound source in response to detection of the focus, and for rendering image frames of the scene, and a display subsystem configured for sequentially displaying the image frames to the end user.

Abstract: An electronic device determines that an application has been launched for which screencasting is available. In response, the device displays a screencast control panel. A user inputs an instruction to begin screencasting via the control panel. In response to this instruction, the electronic device screencasts media content including content created by the application. A rate of screencasting is determined by a Frame Rate Conversion (FRC) module.

Abstract: A hearing aid comprises a sensor configured for detecting a focus of an end user on a real sound source, a microphone assembly configured for converting sounds into electrical signals, a speaker configured for converting the electrical signals into sounds, and a control subsystem configured for modifying the direction and/or distance of a greatest sensitivity of the microphone assembly based on detected focus. A virtual image generation system comprises memory storing a three-dimensional scene, a sensor configured for detecting a focus of the end user on a sound source, a speaker configured for conveying sounds to the end user, and a control subsystem configured for causing the speaker to preferentially convey a sound originating from the sound source in response to detection of the focus, and for rendering image frames of the scene, and a display subsystem configured for sequentially displaying the image frames to the end user.

Abstract: A method includes receiving user input indicating a selection of a subset of two or more of a plurality of audio layers for media content to be provided to a user, each of the subset of audio layers corresponding to one or more audio sources, receiving second user input indicating volume levels for the two or more audio layers of the plurality of audio layers, capturing, based on the first user input, the two or more audio layers of the plurality of audio layers for a media content item to be provided to the user, and creating an output audio layer for the media content item by mixing the two or more audio layers of the plurality of audio layers without including other audio layers of the plurality of audio layers, the output audio layer reflecting the volume levels indicated by the second user input. The method further includes causing the media content item to be provided to the user using the output audio layer reflecting the indicated volume levels.

Abstract: System architecture and methods for enabling an online real-time auction (either server-side or client-side) of advertising inventory that works in conjunction with ad serving technologies. In some implementations, the system architecture facilitates multiple parallel requests from an end-user's browser client to multiple real-time bidders who respond with a bid and advertisement that are sent to an ad serving system to be compared with other statically priced advertisements and exchange demand to determine the winning advertisements that will be displayed to the end-user. Data is aggregated for each bid and price limits are set based on the aggregations. In other implementations, all the bids from the multiple bidders are passed to the publisher for selection of a bid by the publisher.

Abstract: An electronic device determines that an application has been launched for which screencasting is available. In response, the device displays a screencast control panel. A user inputs an instruction to begin screencasting via the control panel. In response to this instruction, the electronic device screencasts media content including content created by the application.

Abstract: A method includes identifying a plurality of layers of audio content available on a local device, each of the plurality of layers corresponding to one or more audio sources, receiving user input indicating a selection of a subset of two or more of the plurality of layers, storing, based on the user input, data identifying the selected layers of the plurality of layers of the audio content available on a local device, capturing, based on the stored data, the selected layers of the audio content, creating an output layer by mixing the selected layers of the audio content without including any unselected layer of the plurality of layers, determining an output frame rate for the output layer, and transmitting the output layer at the determined output frame rate to a media hosting service for presentation at a remote device.

Abstract: System architecture and methods for enabling an online real-time auction (either server-side or client-side) of advertising inventory that works in conjunction with ad serving technologies. In some implementations, the system architecture facilitates multiple parallel requests from an end-user's browser client to multiple real-time bidders who respond with a bid and advertisement that are sent to an ad serving system to be compared with other statically priced advertisements and exchange demand to determine the winning advertisements that will be displayed to the end-user. Data is aggregated for each bid and price limits are set based on the aggregations. In other implementations, all the bids from the multiple bidders are passed to the publisher for selection of a bid by the publisher.

Abstract: A pump interface tubing for use in a peristaltic pump includes a tubular core having an outer surface and a treatment on the outer surface. The treatment reduces static charge buildup on the tubular core during operation of the peristaltic pump, and thereby reduces the noise signal that might otherwise undesirably couple to a signal of interest. Treatments include nitrile layers, heat shrink layers, cotton fiber layers, and anti-static sprays.

Abstract: A dual source spatialized audio system includes a general audio system and a personal audio system. The general system includes a general audio processor and general speakers to produce general sound. The personal system includes a frame to be worn on a head of a user and a plurality of personal speakers attached to the frame. The personal system also includes a head pose sensor to collect head pose data of the user. The personal system further includes a head pose processor to determine a head pose of the user from the head pose data. Moreover, the personal system includes a personal audio processor to generate personal audio data based on the head pose of the user. The personal speakers generate personal sound corresponding to the personal audio data. The personal processor receives timing information/metadata from the general audio processor to synchronize the personal sound with the general sound.